You don't see how this is truly a coaching problem at its heart because you do not want to.

Most would agree that our core group of forwards is better than that of the Flames.
Most of the most would agree that the reason the Flames are more competitive is due to the coaching approach, not the players skill set.

How many other teams/coaches in the NHL put their best three forwards on the 1st line?
Why must Hall, RNH and Eberle play together on the 1st no matter what? Because they want to? Or because the coach wants them to?
Why not spread the wealth through out the line-up of they your stars and so good?

Why waste most of the preseason playing guys everyone and their grandmother knows have no business playing in regular NHL games? Why not use that time so mix the forwards you know you have and see what you can come up with?

Who chose to play a Dman a lot of minutes in the first 10 games and then put him on waivers? Once on waivers no other team wanted to pick him up. How was he so good to be our 1-2 Dman and not even a 6-7 on any other NHL team(most of which are better than the Oilers)? Who made that decision and gave those minutes? How much smarter does Eakins believe he is than the rest of the NHL? He's results would show otherwise, no?
- Bosanuts

I see merit it your comments, but only a couple things worked last year.
1. Nuge and Ebs with Hall
2.petry and Marincin pair

this is a great opportunity for Nuge and Ebs to show they can be top line producers without Hallsy. Wait and see I guess, they sure as fck were not last year.

poor oiler fans
you guys deserve better
- BestRapperAlive

(frank)ing rights we do... actually all canadian fans deserve better...
Vancouver should have won a cup but missed their window- it will be lost for a long long time now
Calgary- well they are working their tails off- something could work there in a short order- 2-3 yrs
Mtrl- likely spent their great playoff run last season- cant see them repeating like that this year
Toronto- well those poor buggars have been waiting for over 40 years...
Winnipeg- I dont really know what to say about this team- are they a playoff team??? I say no esp being in the west now...

I see merit it your comments, but only a couple things worked last year.
1. Nuge and Ebs with Hall
2.petry and Marincin pair

this is a great opportunity for Nuge and Ebs to show they can be top line producers without Hallsy. Wait and see I guess, they sure as fck were not last year.
- Jeropotato

Nor have they been this year... I expect more of the same of last year... although- where did that speed and drive to the net come from baby nuge last game for the lone goal?? it was awesome...

Calgary has 2-3 dmen better than our best guy, and they've gotten better goaltending than we have. That is most of the reason they are better.

I'm in favour of a marginal upgrade at defense. That is, so long as we weren't massively overpaying, I'm in favour of acquiring any dman that is even one iota better than our best guy. By my rough estimate, there's about 55 or so of those floating around.

For those who are not in favour of a marginal upgrade, and instead want to wait for a significant upgrade, or wait for a player that's a perfect fit, why do you feel this way? Not saying you're an idiot, just looking for perspective.